Church in honor of the icon of The mother Of God "Joy of all who sorrow" in Odessa (Ukraine). Part 1

Church in honor of the icon of the mother of God "Joy of all who sorrow", located in the seaside district of Odessa at the intersection of two streets - Bazaar and Leontovich, known not only to residents but also tourists who come to relax and see the sights of the black sea pearl.

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What is so remarkable about this temple?

In the text of the Church tropar, filled with pleas for help addressed to the virgin Mary, there are such words:

"Now we, sinners and humble, will diligently resort to the virgin, and we will fall to her in repentance, crying from the depths of our soul: "mistress, help us, having pity on us, hurry, we perish from a multitude of sins! Do not let Your servants: for in You have we are the only hope!"that explain the hidden meaning of the name of this icon and clear to any Orthodox Christian. For in the souls of many of us there lives a desire to help everyone who needs help, be it a person who has been hit by illness or infirmity, or who has fallen into a difficult life situation.

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Little history.

At the end of 1848, the year the Holy Synod, with the assistance of eminent residents of the city, among which was the privy councillor A. S. Sturdza, Prince E. Gagarin, Countess Choiseul-Guthe, issued a decree on the early construction of private almshouses with the Church the "home of the Grieving Sisters."

The building of the hospital, as well as a small temple inside it with the image of a pure virgin, was erected in the shortest possible time, and a year later, on December 4, 1850, just on the day when all the Orthodox celebrate the holiday of "the Introduction of the blessed virgin Mary" it was consecrated.

About two decades later, a bigger temple was erected instead. The duties of his servants included visiting the sick to maintain their faith in God and to pray for the afflicted.

During Soviet times, the workhouse was closed, although the Church itself was valid until 1960, the year when according to the decree of the government of Khrushchev closed across the country, existing at that time, churches and temples.

The rector of the Church, father George Shaposhnikov, was ordered to collect his belongings and leave the Church within 24 hours. With the help of parishioners, he managed to collect and hide all the shrines of the temple, including the icon of the blessed virgin Mary "Joy to all who Sorrow."

In the deserted building housed the telephone exchange. And wasn't it a miracle that her employees heard from somewhere, angelic singing from time to time.

In 1997, the year the Church once again became active, opened its doors for parishioners. At the same time, restoration works were carried out, and the parishioners returned to the Church all the valuables that they stored after its closure in 1960. By the way, most of the valuables found right in the temple during the restoration.

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In 2000, the year of the newly restored Church was consecrated by His Eminence Agafangel, Metropolitan of Odessa and Izmail. A year later, in 2001, by the decision of Archpriest John Gori, father superior of the Church, he was painted in the academic style by the famous icon painters of the Pochaev Lavra.

By the way, one of the primates of the Church - Archimandrite Pimen (Izvekov), later became Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia.

Now this temple is one of the most beloved and revered among the Orthodox Christians of the city.

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If you visit it, be sure to pay attention to another significant Shrine of the temple - the icon of St. Nicholas. The history of its appearance in the Church is truly wonderful and amazing.

After service in the Church resumed divine service, and its Abbot John appealed to local businessmen asking for charitable donations. In the office of one of them, the priest saw an old icon, the canvas of which is completely blackened from time to time. The owner even had no idea who was depicted on this icon, which he inherited. However, he refused to give it to the Church. Father John did not insist, but the next morning utterly terrified the owner of the old canvas has been in his office and begged me to pick him up at the same hour.

On questioning the priest about what made him change his mind, he stammered, told that in his dreams was the image of St. Nicholas and said: "Give me back my icon in the temple".

But these wonders did not end. The icon, returned to the temple, itself renewed, showing to the eyes of the faithful the face of St. Nicholas.

To be continued...